Chapter Text
The sound of chatter and clinking glasses mingled with the scent of smoked roast, filling the perfumed night air. Gentle music from the band on stage wafted over the heads of the people in the ballroom. Stars gleamed out of sight, winking, as if celebrating along with the people below. The air, free of gloom and malice, was pleasant as it filled Link’s lungs from a nearby window. The sweet ambrosia of his drink crackled and popped on his tongue. He liked this drink, first trying it a few months ago. He had specifically ordered it from the kitchens for the night’s events. Across the room, someone shouted his name.
“Link!” Zelda waved, making her way through the crowd to the person in question. He smiled, setting his drink down on the buffet table. She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. He savoured the embrace. She had been gone for three months, setting up schools and housing around Hyrule. She pulled back, eyes gleaming. “I missed you!” Link felt a grin splitting his face. He bowed to her, producing a Silent Princess from behind his back.
“For you, my dear princess,” she put a hand on her mouth, gasping.
“Oh, for me? You shouldn’t have!” she held out her hand to him, playing into the joke. He kissed her ring elegantly.
“Still as beautiful as ever,” he straightened back up. She tucked the once-endangered plant behind her ear, looking extremely pleased.
“How are you?” he asked, eager to hear all about her travels. “How was the expedition?” Her eyes lit up with delight, and she started to tell him all about her time studying the all the flora that had grown around Hyrule when she was fighting Ganon in her absence.
He had missed her terribly – he did not intend to mention to her the nightmares, or waking up and reaching for Zelda, thinking she was dead gone again – only to remember she was okay and safe and not waiting for him.
In all honesty, he hated it there, in that castle. The gigantic, echoing corridors, and no chance to see the stars.
When Zelda had asked him, begged him to take the throne from her, of course he accepted. He would do anything for her. Give up anything for her.
Even if it was his freedom.
And so he was crowned King Link two years, 3 seasons, and 8 hours ago. Two moon cycles after he defeated Calamity Ganon. Now, instead of exploring and cooking and practicing archery, he spent his days making re-population plans and organizing the rebuilding of settlements.
He would be lucky if he got called once a moon cycle to get rid of a batch of monsters.
He turned his attention back to Zelda. It’s not like she would be at the castle for long; she would be going to their house in Hateno a few days after the celebration. Oh, how he wished he could go too. Sleep in in their bed, wake up early and surprise her with breakfast. Go to Gerudo Town and get a Noble Pursuit, to go shield surfing in Akkala. To feel something. Adrenaline, pain, anything but this numb boredom that comes when you lock a child of the wild in the prison that was a castle.
Zelda was mid ramble about the school she was helping set up with Symin when there was a clinking on a glass from the from the other end of the ballroom, where there was a slightly raised platform. There stood Purah, no longer in the form of a child, but one early 20s. She had finally gotten a proper hold on her machine. She claimed that 20 was the best age to be, and had decided to stay that age for the time being.
Purah cleared her throat before speaking. “Thank you all for attending tonight’s celebrations, especially Princess Zelda, who has returned after so long!” cheers and whoops echoed around the room. Zelda blushed deeply, embarrassed at all the attention. Even after all these years, the people of Hyrule still loved her.
“I’m taking all the spotlight at your own birthday party!” Zelda whispered to Link as Purah continued her speech.
“Oh, come on Zelda, it’s only my 121st!” She snorted at his comment, smiling. “And make sure to listen to Purah, we have something planned,” Linked told her. Zelda raised an eyebrow, but turned back to Purah to listen without further discussion.
“-and on another note, we are pleased to announce a new opportunity to all; a new University is opening near Castle Town. Hyrule Academy will open in the autumn!” Purah uncovered an easel with a painting of what the University will look like. Zelda turned to him, eyes shining with unshed tears.
“I was thinking, you could teach there on occasion?” Link offered. Zelda threw her arms around him, squeezing him in an overly tight embrace. He hugged her back.
“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” she gipped him tightened.
The moment was interrupted by a guard, running up to Link.
“Your Majesty!” she halted. “I am sorry to interrupt, but there is a group outside asking for you. We informed them you were busy, but they said they would wait for you,” she ducked her head. Link untangled himself from Zelda.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” she nodded. He turned to the guard. “Thank you for informing me, Magnolia. Are they outside the main doors?” Magnolia nodded.
“They are 8 of them. Also, they passed the test. No reaction to mighty bananas or insults of Kohga.” Link nodded, making his way through the crowd and out of the room, accepting the compliments and returning the handshakes.
He reached the main foyer, ear twitching at faint voices outside. He walked through the open doors, stopping a few feet in front of the eclectic bunch. The group stood just out of the light of the hall, and ceased conversation when he arrived. He wondered why they needed to see him so badly. Perhaps there was a particularly tough batch of monsters? There were reports of such creatures with black blood, lately…
“Hello,” he greeted. “I heard you were looking for Link?”
“Hello!” a boy in a blue tunic stepped forward. His outfit reminded Link of his own blue counterpart, sitting unused in the slate on his hip. “Are you Link? The guards said they’d send him out here!” The boy’s enthusiasm made Link’s lips twitch upwards.
But something was bothering him.
How did they not know what he looked like? Almost half of Hyrule showed up for his coronation, and his face is plastered over the Luck Clover almost every week. Link destroys terrifying monster camp! Link rebuilds Castle Town! Link declares Royal Library now open to the public!
He shook the feeling of distrust off; not everyone was out to get him. They probably didn’t know what he looked like because they only got the news via word of mouth or lived in an isolated settlement! Hylia knows there were too many people like that out there.
“If you need a place to stay or report a monster camp, you can stay at the shelter in Central Square,” Link said warmly. He pointed in its direction. “You can get free meals and the guards will help with the monsters.”
“Thank you for your concern, but we really need to talk to Link. Do you know where he is?” despite Link’s proficiency to see in darkness compared to other Hylians, he couldn’t make out the features of this new speaker. They were at the back of the group, face shrouded in shadow. Link’s brows furrowed. He felt a tugging sensation in his gut. It was familiar, but he couldn’t place where he felt it before. This group was quite insistent to see him, huh?
“Why don’t you come inside? It is cold out here, and we can discuss further in the hall,” Link attempted to channel his inner Zelda politeness. The group exchanged glances, before the boy at the front nodded.
“That would be quite nice, thank you!” Link nodded, before gesturing for them to go into the foyer. He followed them inside, sitting down on a couch. The travellers settled into similar sofas near his. Two of the members lagged significantly behind the rest, quietly conversing. If he was anyone else, he couldn’t have picked it up. His ears twitched as he listened, eyes drifting to watch the two teenager-looking aged kids fight over a seat.
“Do you think he’s Link?” asked the one with the scar over one eye and the strange markings on his face.
“I don’t know. Possibly, but Fi hasn’t said anything except to look for the Hero of the Wild. His clothes seemed expensive. Do you think he could be nobility? Royal family?” the other, who had a white scarf adorning his neck, whispered back.
“I don’t know. Try to ask him, subtly. It’s a new Hyrule, so we don’t know what to expect.” What did he mean by that, new Hyrule?
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” the other replied.
Link hadn’t gotten that gut feeling of distrust when he laid his eyes upon the group, but now he was questioning his instincts, despite them never leading him astray before. What did these people want from him?
His first impulse when meeting someone new is to be open, but after hearing that conversation, he wasn’t sure he should introduce himself so readily. Not until they revealed what they wanted with him. He was mostly sure they weren’t Yiga, but that didn’t mean they didn’t want to hurt him.
His eyes roved over the group. Now he could see them better, he realised just how odd they all were next to each other. He guessed they could be related, but more of 2nd cousin statis than immediate family. Again, now they were in the light, he could see how exhausted they looked. Dark circles stained the underneath of some of their eyes, and now the young one with the blue tunic was sitting, his eyes drooped despite him visibly trying to keep them open.
The two others who were talking walked over and sat across from Link, next to the person with pink hair.
“So, what did you wish to discuss?” Link asked, posture straight and hands on his lap. A perfectly respectable member of society he was, thank you very much.
“We’re looking for the hero named Link,” the man with the blue scarf answered. His gaze lingered on Link’s scars before snapping back to maintain his rigid eye contact. “We would greatly appreciate it if you could you could tell us where he is… your majesty?” The man’s gaze travelled to the plain crown adorning Link’s head. He quickly took it off, placing it beside him.
“No need for formalities. It seems we skipped the introductions.” He stood up, offering his hand to the man. He firmly shook it before Link retook his seat on his couch.
“You can call me Warriors,” the man – Warriors – said. “That there is Time, Twilight, Wind, Four, Legend, Hyrule, and Sky,” Warriors pointed them each out in turn. Each one gave a little wave or nod of acknowledgement. Funny names, but I guess I can’t judge.
“It is a pleasure to meet you all,” Link said. “But, may I ask, what do you want with the hero?” a ripple of something travelled through the group. The man with the white cape – Sky, perhaps? – looked at the one-eyed man (Time?) for guidance. He gave a small nod of his head. Taking this as permission, Sky started to speak.
“We’re on a quest from Hylia,” he explained. Link tilted his head at him. Hylia had sent someone else on a quest? He glanced at the statue that stood at the end of the hall. Why didn’t she tell him? He looked back at Sky.
“Pardon me, but did you say a quest from Hylia? Why didn’t she appoint the hero?” Sky sent an uncomfortable look at Time, as if saying help me! Time smirked. He wouldn’t be the one answering. Sky looked back at Link, and seemingly deciding he was trustworthy, shifted something off his back.
“The thing is, we all are Hylia’s appointed heroes, but from all different points in time.” The words didn’t reach Link. His gaze was fixed, horrified, on the item in Sky’s hands.
“My Hyrule is underwater!” called out Wind.
Link swallowed, throat dry. How- how did he get that? Link plunged his arm into the Sheikah Slate hanging on his waist, searching for something he knew wouldn’t be there, something that was already in the other man’s arms.
The Master Sword.
He withdrew his arm, facing Sky.
“Where did you get that?” he asked, barely more than a whisper.
“Pardon?” ask Sky. Wild growled, friendly demeanour gone in an instant. That tugging sensation- it was from the sword, first felt all those years ago when he pulled it from the ground, and again during his journey.
The sword that had saved his life countless times, moving to block an attack faster than he ever could. The sword that sealed away Calamity Ganon.
And this man had somehow taken it from him. It was glowing more brightly than he had ever seen it, and had no chips or worn-down parts, but it was unmistakably his.
Link lunged at the man without warning, grabbing at the sword. Yells of alarm erupted around the room. Sky pushed Link off of him, sending him to the ground. He would’ve gotten up if he wasn’t wearing those damn ceremonial clothes-
Link shuffled backwards, hitting the door. He stood up, drawing a sword from his slate. He was foolish to trust these strangers, foolish to welcome them inside. But why would they show me the sword if they had stolen it? whispered the logical side of his brain. It was drowned out by betrayal, Yiga, life in danger, Calamity Ganon. His flight-or-flight took over. He quickly got off the ground.
“How did you take it?” he demanded, pulling a sword out of his slate and pointing it at Sky.
Sky got the impression he was very proficient with a blade.
The man with the pelt, Twilight, put his hands up in a placating gesture. “I think there been a big misunderstandin’ here,” he said in a voice that reminded Link of the one he used when trying not to scare a spooked animal. “I know it looks like it, bu’ this isn’t the Master Sword of your world.” Your world? “We’re all one of Hylia’s chosen champions.”
“We’ve been sent here through a portal,” the boy with mousy brown, Hyrule (seriously, what were these names?) hair explained.
“We get sent through portals by the goddess to random points in Hyrule’s history. This Hyrule was none of ours, so we we’re trying to find the Link of here,” the pink one, Legend explained with an almost bored intonation to his voice.
Link exhaled slowly, heart rate slowing slightly. He could tell none of them were lying, despite how ridiculous this story was. Gradually, he lowered his sword, the point dipping into the plush carpet.
“You really mean it? You’re the heroes of the legends?” the disbelief in his voice was evident. Although, that would explain the Master Sword.
Legend scoffed. “No one ever believe us,” he muttered to himself. Link ignored him.
“May I?” he held out his hand for the Master Sword, storing his other back in the slate. Sky hesitated for a second, before handing it over.
Link turned it over in his hands. It started to age and wither before his eyes; cracks appearing in the hilt and the colour dimming significantly. It hummed in his fingers. Hello again, Hero of the Wild, it whispered.
The others gaped at the sword.
“W-wait,” said Four. “You mean you’re the Hero of the Wild?”
Link flipped the sword, leaning on it.
“You know, I don’t think I introduced myself. The name’s Link.”